More for college athletes: not if, but how

MIAMI (AP) — After decades when paying college athletes was thought to violate the spirit of amateurism, the enormous television revenue generated by sports — football and basketball in particular — and the long hours of work by the players have changed the debate.The head of the NCAA now supports a stipend for athletes to cover costs beyond tuition, books and fees, and both coaches in Monday's BCS...

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Fighting Irish vs Crimson Tide: 2 storied programs try to live up to hype in BCS title game

MIAMI - Sometimes, the buildup to a game can overwhelm what actually happens on the field.Certainly, No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Alabama would have to play nothing less than a classic to live up to all the hype for Monday night's BCS championship.Before either team stepped on the field in balmy South Florida, this was shaping up as one of the most anticipated games in years, a throwback to the era...

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Money for college athletes: not if, but how

e for the BCS National Championship college football …more RELATED CONTENTView PhotoNotre Dame head coach Brian Kelly …View PhotoAlabama head coach Nick Saban speaks …MIAMI (AP) — After decades when paying college athletes was thought to violate the spirit of amateurism, the enormous television revenue generated by sports — football and basketball in particular — and the long hours of work by the...

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Kings beat Raptors 105-96 to halt Toronto's win streak at ACC at five games

TORONTO - DeMarcus Cousins poured in 31 points and grabbed 20 rebounds to lift the Sacramento Kings to a 105-96 victory over the Raptors on Friday, handing Toronto its first loss at home in six games.Kyle Lowry scored 24 points to top the Raptors (12-21), who've lost just twice in 10 games.Alan Anderson added 20 points, DeMar DeRozan finished with 14, Jose Calderon had 13 points and just three assists,...

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Notre Dame women shock No. 1 UConn 73-72

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Skylar Diggins and Notre Dame just seem to have Connecticut's number.The Irish have turned one of the best rivalries in women's basketball into a one-sided affair lately, winning five of the past six meetings.The senior All-American scored 19 points hitting big shot after big shot in the second half to lift fifth-ranked Notre Dame to a 73-72 victory over the top-ranked Huskies...

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Kelly wants Notre Dame keeping bar at title height

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Win or lose, Notre Dame's Brian Kelly doesn't want his team aiming any lower than the national championship game in the future.Kelly said Sunday "it's unacceptable for the standard to be any less than being back here again." First things first, his top-ranked Fighting Irish will face No. 2 Alabama Monday night hoping for their first national title since 1988.Kelly has...

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PGA Tour's season opener delayed again

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — For those who think the PGA Tour season never ends, here's a new twist: This one can't get started.The season-opening Tournament of Champions was postponed for the second straight day because of gusts that topped 40 mph and made it impossible to play golf. Unlike the previous day when 24 players managed to tee off, no one hit a shot Saturday on the Plantation Course at Kapalua."We...

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UPDATE 1-Golf-Play again abandoned at wind-swept Kapalua

* PGA Tour's season opener cut to 54 holes* Gusts up to 40mph make course unplayable (Adds quotes, detail)Jan 5 (Reuters) - The Hawaiian island of Maui was no paradise on Saturday when the official start of the 2013 PGA Tour was postponed for a second consecutive day because of strong gusting winds at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.First-round play in the PGA Tour's season-opening event was entirely...

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Play again abandoned at wind-swept Kapalua

The Hawaiian island of Maui was no paradise on Saturday when the official start of the 2013 PGA Tour was postponed for a second consecutive day because of strong gusting winds at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.First-round play in the PGA Tour's season-opening event was entirely scrapped on Friday because of similar conditions and hopes of playing 36 holes on Saturday were abandoned after the...

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Baseball-McGehee to join fellow former Yankee Jones in Japan - report

 Infielder Casey McGehee is on the verge of joining another former New York Yankee Andruw Jones at the Rakuten Eagles in Japan's professional baseball league, according to a local media report on Friday.Rakuten, who signed former All-Star outfielder Jones earlier this week, have agreed to a 130 million yen ($1.54 million) one-year contract with 30-year-old free-agent McGehee, Kyodo news agency...

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McGehee to join fellow former Yankee Jones in Japan: report

 Infielder Casey McGehee is on the verge of joining another former New York Yankee Andruw Jones at the Rakuten Eagles in Japan's professional baseball league, according to a local media report on Friday.Rakuten, who signed former All-Star outfielder Jones earlier this week, have agreed to a 130 million yen ($1.54 million) one-year contract with 30-year-old free-agent McGehee, Kyodo news agency...

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Greenberg gets minor league deal from Orioles

Adam Greenberg is getting a chance to resume his baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles.The 31-year-old returned to the major leagues for one at-bat in October, more than seven years after he was beaned in his debut. He agreed to a minor league contract with the Orioles and will have a chance to earn a job at their Triple-A farm team in Norfolk, Va."To get the opportunity with the Orioles means...

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AP Source: D-backs, Ross agree to 3-year contract

Outfielder Cody Ross has agreed to a three-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Saturday.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.Ross, who turns 32 Sunday, adds to the abundance of outfielders on the Arizona roster, leading to speculation a trade may be ahead. He .267 with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs last...

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OF Cody Ross and Diamondbacks agree to 3-year deal

 Cody Ross and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a three-year contract Saturday with a club option for 2016.Ross, who turns 32 on Sunday and lives in nearby Scottsdale, adds to the abundance of outfielders on the Arizona roster, leading to speculation a trade might be coming. Ross batted .267 with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs last season for the Boston Red Sox. He's a career .267 hitter in nine...

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Manziel could make history by winning Heisman

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Johnny Manziel certainly has the statistics worthy of a Heisman Trophy  winner. He plays in the powerful Southeastern Conference. He has a signature win — all things Heisman voters typically look for.The only question is whether the voters will give the award to a freshman for the first time.Adrian Peterson, star running back for the Vikings and the only freshman...

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Bielema excited for challenge of SEC at Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bret Bielema watched from afar in April as Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long handled the difficult circumstances surrounding Bobby Petrino's firing, liking what he saw so much that he wrote Long a letter of support a few months later.Bielema also liked what he heard from Long earlier this week during a clandestine meeting in New York, eventually agreeing to become the...

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Notre Dame's Te'o wins Bednarik Award

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o has won the Bednarik Award, given to the nation's most outstanding defensive player.Te'o was presented with the award Thursday night at the Home Depot College Football Awards show at Disney World. He beat out finalists Jadeveon Clowney from South Carolina and Georgia's Jarvis Jones.The leader of the nation's top-ranked scoring defense,...

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Notre Dame's Kelly wins coach of the year award

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Brian Kelly of Notre Dame has won coach of the year at the Home Depot College Football Awards show at Disney World.Kelly received the award Thursday night. He becomes the first two-time winner, having previously received the honor in 2009 while he was at Cincinnati.Kelly led the 12-0 Fighting Irish to the school's first undefeated regular season since 1988 and only the...

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